Ryan Graves earns third star in game
Yarmouth's Ryan Graves was named third star in the Colorado Avalanche's 9-4 Nov. 7 win over the Nashville Predators.
Yarmouth’s Ryan Graves’ multipoint NHL game on Nov. 7 earned him the third star in the Colorado Avalanche’s 9-4 win over the Nashville Predators.
Graves had a goal and two assists during the game, which had started out as back-and-forth action in the first period but was anything but while the second period rolled along.
During the second period the Avalanche set a franchise record scoring six unanswered goals in eight minutes. Graves’ goal was part of that scoring frenzy, with a shot from the point 20 seconds after teammate Joonas
Donskoi had started the sixgoal rally.
After being up 2-1 at the end of the first period, and then falling behind 3-2 early in the second, Colorado found itself up 8-3 by the end of the second frame. With their eventual 9-4 win, Colorado’s nine goals overall was also the most scored by any team so far during this NHL season.
After the game while speaking with reporters, Graves said a takeaway from the game was the team had proven to itself that, “When we play the right way, we score a lot more goals.”
In a post-game interview he expanded further, saying, “We knew the importance of it, to get back on track. I think we had a lot of importance coming out the right way, playing simple, and building energy and getting momentum going and just feeling good about ourselves and that kind of game brings us success.”
“Getting it deep and working behind their D and getting low to high and putting pucks to net, it doesn’t always have to be the fancy play,” he said. “We have a lot of skill, but we can score goals every way and I think we showed that.”
Whereas last season Graves was called up to Colorado at the end of December, this season he was named to the team’s roster when training camp ended. As of our press deadline on Monday he had played in 16 games and had tallied six points – two goals and four assists.
In an interview with the TriCounty Vanguard after this year’s training camp, Graves was asked about making the Avs’ season roster. He said it had been a tough training camp and he had gone in knowing he had to battle for a spot – he saw himself in competition with some other players for those last two roster positions. He said he just did what he needed to do to stick around.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity and enjoying every minute of it,” he said.
Graves described himself at the time as more of a defensive D-man, as opposed to an offensive one.
“Penalty kill and a shut-down kind of defenseman,” he said about his play.
Graves likes the dynamic of the defensemen Colorado has this season – from being offensive and scoring, to shutting down other teams from doing the same. You’ve also got to be prepared to throw your body in front of the puck to block shots, which Graves won’t hesitate to do.
“It’s a roll that I’m comfortable filling,” he says.
As always, Graves is always appreciative for the support from back home in Yarmouth.
“All my friends and family message me. It’s nice, the continued support,” he says.